Cloud services are reshaping the way companies do business and manage their information and open up tremendous opportunities for Irish companies. The Irish Internet Association, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and sponsored by Microsoft, is holding a series of Cloud Awareness and Adoption events for summer 2013 aimed at helping Irish SMEs assess the potential of using cloud-based business models to support their export growth – the first event takes place in Galway on Thursday 30 May.

As they move from a traditional in-house IT infrastructure to an external cloud-based solution, businesses benefit from a responsive, timely and cost-effective operation. This announcement takes place during National Cloud Week with a number of other initiatives taking place to support cloud adoption. This Cloud Awareness series is specifically designed to help companies to assess the benefits of cloud computing while managing any potential risks. Delegates will hear from other SMEs on how, why and what they moved to the cloud as well as from security and service contract experts who will guide delegates through the process.

Speaking at the launch, Joan Mulvihill, CEO of the Irish Internet Association, welcomed the opportunity to partner with Enterprise Ireland in bringing these events to the Irish SME community. “We are delighted to be working with Enterprise Ireland on this initiative. We have a shared commitment and responsibility to ensuring that Irish businesses have the knowledge and resources they need to benefit from cloud solutions. It’s going to be a busy start to the summer with events planned for Galway, Dublin and Cork”.

Frank Ryan, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, welcomed the initiative, saying: “Enterprise Ireland is delighted to be part of this Cloud Computing Awareness programme aimed in particular at SMEs. This is an important move to help increase the numbers of Irish businesses, small and large, who successfully adopt Cloud Computing, and is an important element of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs. A central part of this plan is targeting key sectors where Ireland has competitive advantage and the potential to foster growth. One such sector is cloud computing, and a number of studies have reported that Ireland has potential to create high levels of growth and jobs in this sector if we move early”.

Microsoft Ireland is a long-standing contributor to the IIA Cloud Computing Working Group and is supporting the IIA and Enterprise Ireland as event sponsors. Delighted with the company’s involvement, Clare Dillon, Microsoft Ireland said: “There is enormous potential for the cloud to play a central role in driving economic growth and job creation but for its potential to be fulfilled it is critical that small businesses understand how they can tap into the benefits of cloud to help them scale for growth. We are delighted that this series of IIA and Enterprise Ireland events are being announced during National Cloud Week – a week of activities organised by Microsoft to drive cloud awareness and adoption.”.

The IIA Cloud Computing Working Group last year in conjunction with the NSAI published “Adopting the Cloud – decision support for cloud computing” as the standard for cloud adoption. The working group is chaired by Lavinia Morris, head of IT infrastructure at Friends First. “The group are pleased to be bringing this decision-support guide to life in the form of these events and by sharing our collective expertise and experiences with the wider business community. These events are totally focussed on helping businesses of all industries and sizes to get the most from the cloud”.